1.18.08Casino approval is critical to turn around of local economy
by Cliff Schrader
Much of St. Clair County Administrator Shaun Groden's "State of the County" presentation was very positive, but the county's still in an economic downturn.
There has been a five-fold increase in residential foreclosures in the past several years - more than 1,000 in 2007, with an anticipated new record for 2008. We are facing high unemployment and growing business closures.
It will be a very long and painful climb back, unless we land a massive economic score with a proven track record. We need something that can pull us out of this economic abyss quickly.
Forget the spin and wishful thinking. The only real hope is the Thomas Edison Inn Casino project and its promised 3,000 to 4,000 jobs.
Within the next three weeks, the proposed casino is headed back to the table with a new hearing date before the House Natural Resources Committee. As you recall, back in November, Port Huron and the Bay Mills Indian Community were blindsided when Washington's version of the Good Old Boys pulled strings in a backroom deal that saw House Bill 2176 yanked from the subcommittee the night before its hearing.
If there are no further middle-of-the night deals, the next step toward congressional approval of the Bay Mills land-claim settlement (and Port Huron's casino) should proceed in an orderly way, but don't count on it.
Several years ago, Port Huron voters supported a statewide ballot proposal for casino developments in Detroit. The Motor City was in terrible financial shape. It watched millions of dollars flow across the border to Canada's Windsor casino every day. Port Huron suffers a similar plight with regard to Pointe Edward's casino.
Yet, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is the first to lead the attack against Port Huron's casino hopes. Has he no shame?
After the House committee hearing in early February, HR 2176 will move to the full House. Under the chamber's rules, it will linger for at least eight days before going to the floor for a vote. If approved, it then goes to the Senate for assignment to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
As in the House, the Senate committee's chairman has the option of waiving the hearing requirement or assigning it to a subcommittee hearing before a full Senate vote. The bill could take several weeks before receiving that final vote.
As you can see, this is a legislative process laden with more deadly obstacles than even Indiana Jones could face. Through it, Port Huron's enemies will stop at nothing. They will add millions more dollars to the tens of millions they already spread around to scuttle this city's casino.
Meanwhile, Detroit's three casinos set another new record - collecting $1.34 billion in 2007 - their seventh-consecutive annual earnings record.
What can congressional members be thinking? Will they let the economies of Port Huron and St. Clair County collapse while casinos in Canada, Detroit and other Michigan cities reap profits beyond belief?
Cliff Schrader is a radio columnist on WGRT-FM 102.3. His Friday columns are part of a cooperative agreement between the radio station and the Times Herald. His opinions are his own and not those of the Times Herald or WGRT.
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